OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has so far spent thousands of dollars to pursue a lawsuit against seven school districts over the use of local levy dollars to pay for basic education.

The Herald reports (https://goo.gl/bWC4IX ) that the office has paid more than $77,000 to outside attorneys.

State schools chief Randy Dorn sued in July alleging that seven school districts — Seattle, Spokane, Vancouver, Bellevue, Tacoma, Everett and Puyallup — illegally rely on local levies to pay for teacher salaries and other education costs. The state is also a defendant.

A King County Superior Court judge has put Dorn's lawsuit on hold until April 30 to see if the Legislature and Gov. Jay Inslee resolve the issue in the upcoming session.

Dorn did not seek re-election. His successor, Chris Reykdal, has said he wants to get OSPI dismissed from the case. Parents from four school districts have also obtained standing as intervening plaintiffs.